STATBOX-Soccer-Euro-Spain v Italy

* Matches between the rivals are traditionally close withItaly holding a narrow edge of eight wins to seven with 10draws. The two have met in tournament finals no less than sixtimes before and Spain have never won in regulation time.However, they did defeat Italy on penalties after a 0-0 draw inthe quarter-finals of Euro 2008 on their way to the title.

* Spain and Italy once played each other on successive daysin the World Cup. At the 1934 finals in Italy, long beforepenalty shootouts were dreamed up, the two drew 1-1 in Florenceand had to replay the next day in the same city. Italy won 1-0and went on to become world champions for the first time.

* Spain, European and world champions, have the chance ofseveral records in this tournament. They could become the firstteam to retain the European title and the first to win threemajor finals in a row after their Euro 2008 success in Austriaand Switzerland and their World Cup win in South Africa twoyears ago. They could also equal Germany's record of threeEuropean championship titles.

* Since their surprise 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in theirfirst World Cup group game two years ago, Spain have embarked ona record 14 successive victories in competitive matches - six atthe World Cup and eight in the Euro qualifiers. Since the startof 2007 Spain's record in World Cup and Euro competition isstartling - in 40 games they have won 37, drawn two and lostonly once.

* Italy are one of only four teams to have beaten Spainsince they won the World Cup. They beat the Spaniards 2-1 in afriendly in Bari last August. The three other teams to beatSpain were Argentina, Portugal and England.

* Italy go into the tournament on the back of threesuccessive losses in friendlies without scoring a goal.Curiously, their last goal was scored in Poland when they beatthe Poles 2-0 in Wroclaw last November.